pacific forum History of Pacific Forum

PacNet #51A – ASEAN Plus Three leads the way

Asia is emerging. For generations, the region has been identifiable as a geographical entity – it was a place on a map – but it lacked a coherent identity beyond that. That is changing. Asia is laying the foundation for an international presence that will rival that of the European Union. Last week’s ASEAN summit and the ASEAN Plus Three (APT) meeting that followed reveal the core of the new Asia. Understanding the APT process is critical to understanding Asia’s rise and role in the future.